Flu cases creep upward
A total of 53 patient visits due to influenza like illness (ILI) was reported out of 5,150 office visits in Michigan for the week ended Nov. 28.
The flu season has arrived quietly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cases in Michigan are creeping upward at a slow rate.
A total of 53 patient visits due to influenza like illness (ILI) was reported out of 5,150 office visits in Michigan for the week ended Nov. 28. That is a 1.0 ILI activity rate for the state which is up from 0.9 last week.
A year ago on Nov. 30, 2019, it was at 1.5 percent when there were 118 patient visits out of 7,676 office visits. ILI is defined as a fever (higher than 100 degrees) and a cough and/ or a sore throat without a known cause other than influenza. Comparatively, the number nationally is 1.6 percent of outpatient visits which is the same as last week and substantially lower than it was a year ago when it stood at 3.5 percent.
Because COVID-19 is still a relatively new illness, there is little data on how flu illness affects the risk of getting COVID-19, according to a Centers for Disease Control report. In general, getting sick with one virus, like flu, doesn’t affect being infected with another, like the virus that causes COVID-19. It is known that people can be infected with flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 at the same time.
A flu shot is recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older with rare exceptions. It’s not too late to be vaccinated.
To find a place near you for a flu vaccine go to Michigan.gov/f lu. Many drug store chains and retailers offer flu shots.
According to the CDC, getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, however flu vaccination has many other important benefits. Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death.